Even after it became clear that the coronavirus pandemic was the greatest crisis of our lifetime, American president Donald Trump downplayed the seriousness of the threat, insisting that it was no worse than the seasonal flu. Only once the pandemic had forced several cities across the country to go on lockdown did he change his tune, announcing measures to address the urgent health crisis as also its devastating economic consequences.

He has taken to regularly addressing the press about the situation, and how his administration is dealing with it. But, as is his won’t, Trump doesn’t like to be questioned, particularly by reporters from media outlets which he considers to be hostile to him and which he has routinely accused of peddling “fake news”.

So, even in these dire times, Trump, true to form, launches into insults and tirades as soon as he is asked a question he would rather wasn’t asked. It’s happened a few times. The latest target was Peter Alexander of NBC News.

Previously, Yamiche Alcindor of PBS has faced the president’s ire for asking him why he had disbanded the White House pandemic response team.